Essential Reading

by
John Steinbeck

TRAVEL NARRATIVE

1995

PAPER

288 PAGES

FAVORITE

The classic account of a collecting trip to the Sea of Cortez with marine biologist Ed Ricketts, first published in 1941. Subtitled "A Leisurely Journal of Travel and Research," this much-loved book captures the wonders of the Gulf of California and the joys of discovery. (BJA02, $17.00)

Also Recommended

by
National Geographic Society

2009

MAP

Together these two National Geographic Adventure Maps cover all of Baja California and surrounding islands at a scale of 1:450,000. We also carry the North (Item BJA65) and South (Item BJA66) Adventure Maps separately. (BJA67, $19.95)

by
National Geographic

by
David Burckhalter

GUIDEBOOK

2013

PAPER

184 PAGES

With gorgeous photographs and useful descriptions that include both historical backgrounds and contemporary driving directions, Baja California Missions is both a photography book and a guidebook. (BJA79, $24.95)

by
Octavio Paz

CULTURAL PORTRAIT

1985

PAPER

398 PAGES

These essays by the Nobel Prize-winning poet address Mexican culture and character. The chapters on the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead and the conquest are especially memorable. (MEX08, $17.00)

by
C. M. Mayo

TRAVEL NARRATIVE

2007

PAPER

368 PAGES

Like Steinbeck (from whom she quotes in the title "the very air here is miraculous"), Mayo is enchanted with the land and people of Baja. She writes of a 1,000-mile journey from Cabo to Tijuana with insight, warmth and style. (BJA34, $15.00)

by
Pina Cacucci

TRAVEL NARRATIVE

2014

HARD COVER

180 PAGES

A humorous and humble travelogue by writer-explorer Cacucci. He travels the length of Baja California revisiting sites seen by John Steinbeck, but becomes enamored with all things whale. (CAL338, $22.95)

by
Peter Benchley

LITERATURE

2013

PAPER

240 PAGES

A heartwarming, eco-conscious novel about a young woman and her sixth-sense for ocean wildlife. Benchley's protagonist, Paloma, discovers a secret ocean animal in a sea full of beauty, danger and adventure. First published in 1983. (BJA78, $15.00)

by
Aaron Hirsh

NATURAL HISTORY

2014

PAPER

416 PAGES

Biologist and director of the Vermilion Sea Field Station Aaron Hirsh recounts his adventures underwater and among the islands of the Sea of Cortez with biologist wife Veronica Volny, historian friend Graham Burnett and students in this series of wondrous essays. (BJA77, $18.00)

by
Joseph Wood Krutch

NATURAL HISTORY

2010

PAPER

272 PAGES

Joseph Wood Krutch celebrates the austere beauty, rugged plants and many animals of American Southwest in this classic account of his first year in Arizona, winner of the 1954 John Burroughs Medal for a Distinguished Book of Natural History -- and as enchanting today. With 33 original illustrations by Rudolf Freund. (USW652, $19.95)

by
Philip Hoare

NATURAL HISTORY

2011

PAPER

256 PAGES

A deeply engaging meditation on all things whale. Hoare saves his special love and attention for the sperm whale -- not only via a beautiful literary analysis of Moby Dick -- but also by indulging in a childhood fantasy and actually swimming with whales in the Azores. (BST144, $15.99)

by
Norman C. Roberts
|
Jon Rebman

FIELD GUIDE

2012

PAPER

452 PAGES

We can't imagine a walk through the deserts and islands of Baja California without this book in hand. With hundreds of color photographs illustrating 715 plants of the region, this superb field guide also includes short introductory chapters on vegetation, geology and climate. This expanded third edition was revised by Jon Rebman, botanist at the San Diego Natural History Museum. (BJA05, $34.95)